By Ben Kerrigan-
Rebel Conservatives have threatened prime minister Boris Johnson by telling him that rules could be altered to allow another challenge, following his latest narrow victory after mps cast their votes on his future last night.
Johnson lost the confidence of 41% of his MPs in a vote on his leadership on Monday night, after weeks of anger over lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street and fears the party’s direction is causing a slump at the polls. But he held unto power by the skin of his teeth, after 211 (59%) mps voted to keep him in power.
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Angry mps in parliament are searching every possible way to get the prime minister out of office, with the Labour party exploring all avenues to secure another vote within months by changing the rules-which itself looks dodgy, but highlights the desperation in some political factions to kick Johnson out of no 10.
The Liberal Democrats say they are planning to table their own no confidence motion in Parliament which would give MPs from all parties the chance to vote on the PM’s future.
Party leader Sir Ed Davey described Mr Johnson as a “lying lawbreaker” who was “clinging on by the skin of his teeth”.
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He said a no confidence vote would give Parliament “the opportunity to finally put an end to this sorry mess and kick him out of Downing Street”.
Former leader Lord Hague, who led the party for four years has attacked the prime minister in a column for the Times– said Mr Johnson had suffered “a greater level of rejection than any Tory leader has ever endured and survived”.
“Deep inside, he should recognise that, and turn his mind to getting out in a way that spares party and country such agonies and uncertainties.”
Two crucial by-elections are taking place after Tory MPs resigned. The Wakefield seat is up for grabs after MP Imran Ahmad Khan was convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy. Labour is hoping to overturn the 3,358 majority and regain a seat they held for decades.
In Tiverton and Honiton, the by-election was prompted by Neil Parish’s resignation after being caught looking at pornography in the House of Commons. The Conservatives had a huge majority of 24,239 – but Liberal Democrats are hopeful of a shock result.
June 2022-? The Privileges Committee in Parliament is investigating Johnson for having potentially misled the Commons over Partygate. The committee’s inquiry was on hold until the completion of the Met Police investigation and the Sue Gray report. The committee can gather evidence, question witnesses and could find Johnson in contempt of Parliament if it concludes he deliberately misled MPs. It has the power to suspend or even expel MPs from Parliament.
The prime minister will attempt to reassert control of the political agenda this week by confirming the government will table legislation to override parts of the Northern Ireland protocol – a move likely to further inflame tensions with some of his party critics.
He will also make a major speech on housing on Thursday, including an intention to extend the right to buy to housing association tenants.
A landmark review of NHS leadership, intended to “level up” failing trusts, is also expected to report this week. On Tuesday morning, Johnson will tell his cabinet of new plans in the coming weeks to ease childcare costs – widely briefed as allowing carers to take on more children.
At cabinet, Johnson will also reiterate a desire to improve delivery, particularly on the cost of living, crime and the NHS backlog.
“This is a government that delivers on what the people of this country care about most,” he will say, citing government achievements on household support and recruitment of police officers.
“Today, I pledge to continue delivering on these priorities. We are on the side of hard-working British people, and we are going to get on with the job.”
But one of Johnson’s key critics, Tobias Ellwood, said on Tuesday that the strength of feeling against the prime minister was so great – with 148 MPs voting against him – that he had just months to turn it around. Under current party rules, Johnson should be safe from a challenge for a year but rules can be changed by the backbench executive of the 1922 Committee.
Ellwood told Sky News: “A lot of work to be done. A reshuffle is now required: bring in fresh talent, and actually start to focus on the big issues.
“Let’s do things that appeal to the country and not just to our base – more exciting policies than the privatisation of Channel 4 and bringing back imperial measurements, but a real economic strategy that’s actually going to help tackle the cost of living crisis.”
Asked how long he believed Johnson would remain as prime minister, he added: “I think we’re talking a matter of months, up to party conference [at the beginning of October].”
Raab said the Conservatives should “draw a line in the sand” following Monday’s confidence vote. “It was clearly and decisively won. We move forward to deliver for the people of the country and that is the way we do the right thing by our constituents.”
When asked whether he could count on rebellious colleagues to support policies, Raab added: “There’s a huge amount, when you look at our policy agenda, that binds us together.
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